Kathleen Hermsmeyer, superintendent of Temecula-based Springs Charter Schools, has been named a 2027 Hart Vision Equity and Innovation Leader of the Year by the California Charter Schools Association.

The association selected Hermsmeyer for her advocacy for "personalized learning that responds to individual students' needs by sharing resources, insights, and lessons learned that extend well beyond Springs," according to Patch.

Hermsmeyer will be formally recognized at the California Charter Schools Conference, scheduled for March 8-11 in Sacramento.

The Hart Vision Awards are named for Gary K. Hart, the state senator who authored California's Charter Schools Act of 1992. The equity and innovation leader award honors charter school leaders who advance equity and expand opportunities for students, according to Patch.

A separate Instagram post from the California Charter Schools Conference account also named Larissa Adam, superintendent of Education for Change Public Schools, as a 2027 recipient of the same award.

Springs Charter Schools is a tuition-free public charter network enrolling more than 14,000 students across Southern California. The network is headquartered at 27740 Jefferson Ave. in Temecula and operates student centers in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

The network offers multiple learning paths. Options include full-time homeschooling and blended programs that combine two to five days of classroom attendance with home instruction.

Hermsmeyer, who holds a doctorate in education, leads eight campuses under the Springs umbrella, according to board records. Those campuses include River Springs, Citrus Springs, Empire Springs, Harbor Springs, Inland Empire Springs, Orange Springs, Pacific Springs and Vista Springs.

It is not the first time a Springs educator has earned a Hart Vision Award. Kimberly Matthews, a teacher with Springs' Virtual Academy, was the 2025 Hart Vision Teacher of the Year. Matthews served as the award ceremony emcee at the 2026 conference, according to the Springs Charter Schools April 2026 newsletter.

Hermsmeyer will receive her award at the March conference in Sacramento.